Print a paper application and drop it off with us during business hours OR apply online and submit it anytime to become a MCHS foster parent.

Downloadable Foster Application

Online Foster Application

Morgan County Humane Society wants every animal brought to us to have a chance at a long, happy life. Shelters can be very stressful places for pets. Foster homes provide a less stressful housing option that can often speed recovery, minimize behavioral deterioration, and increase chances of adoption. Because of our limited resources and personnel, we are not able to care for many sick, injured, and very young but otherwise adoptable animals as we would like to. Foster care will allow some of the young ones to grow and the sick and injured to heal. In addition, utilizing foster homes for any eligible animals exponentially increases the capacity of our shelter, allowing us to care for more animals. The foster care program brings caring individuals and needy animals together, providing care in a home setting until the animals are ready for adoption. 

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Who gets priority?

Medical Cases

Bottle Babies

WHEN AN ANIMAL IS SICK OR INJURED, THE LIKELIHOOD OF THEM GETTING HEALTHY IS ALWAYS BETTER IN A HOME. SOMETIMES THESE ANIMALS WILL BE ON MEDICATION, CAGE REST, OR TRYING TO GAIN WEIGHT. ​ VET VISITS MAY BE MORE FREQUENT, BUT HELPING SAVE A LIFE IS WORTH THE EXTRA TLC THEY MAY REQUIRE.

THEY ARE BOTH VERY CUTE AND A LOT OF WORK. THESE TINY BABIES REQUIRE AROUND THE CLOCK CARE AND ATTENTION, AS THEY ARE MOST VULNERABLE AT THIS AGE. BOTTLE BABIES ARE VERY HANDS-ON AND CARING FOR THEM IS AN INCREDIBLY REWARDING EXPERIENCE.

Motherless Litters

Elderly & Geriatrics

THESE BABIES ARE OFTEN BETWEEN 4-8 WEEKS OLD AND ARE JUST WAITING TO GET BIG ENOUGH TO GET FIXED. MULTIPLE BABIES MAY SEEM LIKE A LOT TO HANDLE, BUT WITH THE HELP OF THEIR SIBLINGS, THEY START TO LEARN HOW TO BE PROPER DOGS AND CATS IN NO TIME.

ELDERLY ANIMALS CAN DECLINE RAPIDLY IN SHELTERS AND OFTEN COME TO US IN NOT-SO-GREAT CONDITION. THESE ANIMALS MAY SUFFER FROM AGE RELATED ISSUES LIKE ARTHRITIS AND MAY BE ON MEDICATIONS. THEY MAY ALSO JUST NEED A COMFY PLACE TO HANG OUT 'TIL THEIR FOREVER HOME IS FOUND.​​
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Mama's and Babies

Singletons

WHETHER THIS IS REFERING TO DOGS OR CATS, BOTH NEED A SAFE, CLEAN, AND  QUIET SPACE TO NURSE THEIR BABIES, MAMA WILL DO  MOST OF THE WORK FOR YOU AND JUST THINK HOW FUN  IT WILL BE TO WATCH EVERYONE GROW!

"SINGLETONS" ARE THE BABIES THAT COME IN WITH NO PARENT OR SIBLINGS. THESE BABIES ARE INCREDIBLY REWARDING TO CARE FOR AND OFTEN BOND STRONGLY WITH THEIR FOSTER PARENT. THEY MAY ALSO TAKE EXTRA CARE TO ENSURE PROPER SOCIALIZATION AND MANNERS.

Socialization & Confidence Building

Behavior Modification & Info.  Gathering

THESE ANIMALS MAY NOT BE QUITE READY FOR ADOPTION DUE TO A LACK OF EXPERIENCES. THEY MAY BE TOO SCARED OR TIMID TO BE ADOPTED RIGHT AWAY, BUT OFTEN JUST NEED TIME AND A GENTLE HAND. SOME GOOD SNACKS AND A CALM HOME ARE OFTEN IMPORTANT FACTORS.

THESE ANIMALS MAY BE STRUGGLING WITH SHELTER STRESS, ARE SHOWING UNDESIREABLE BEHAVIORS, OR NEED BASIC TRAINING. MANY SHELTER ANIMALS COME TO US AS STRAYS, MEANING WE NEED TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THEM TO FIND THEIR PERFECT HOME.

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Think you're too busy to foster? Think again.

Fostering doesn't have to take up your whole life. Find a niche that works for you.

Yes, it's true; some animals may require a bit of extra time and care, but there are others that really just need a place to chill until they find their forever home. See the above information, check the FAQ's below, or fill out an application to speak with our Foster Coordinator about what the right fit is for you. Our goal is to make fostering a simple, easy-breezy process for everyone.

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Worried about expenses? We've got it covered.

MCHS will pay for all associated foster care expenses, leaving you to handle the fun stuff.

This includes everything from medical care to general supplies like food, litter, toys, crate, etc.
Now don’t get us wrong, we certainly appreciate our fosters who are willing to cover the basics like food, litter, and grooming.  Some of our fosters go all out and even help us cover medical care.  That extra support means we can help more animals get into foster and forever homes.
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And if you do help with foster care expenses, it’s considered a tax-deductible contribution!

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Foster Care FAQ's

I have other pets, can i still foster?

YES! Make sure that your current pets are up to date on all vaccinations. Remember to think of your pets at home before committing to fostering an animal. If your current pet doesn’t like dogs or cats, fostering is most likely not going to workout for you unless you can keep the animals separate at all times, without stressing your current pet out. Always respect your current pet’s feelings.

what if my foster pet needs emergency veterinary care?

If your foster pet has an obvious life threatening medical emergency, contact the foster coordinator, and they will instruct you on what to do next. Emergency vet visits must also be pre-approved by Morgan County Humane Society, and only be provided by one of our approved veterinarians. The foster coordinator is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to address emergency situations.

what if my foster pet isn't working out?

​While we make every effort to ensure a good and safe foster match, there are times when this will fail. In this case contact your foster coordinator as soon as possible. Many times issues are minor and the problems can be solved by giving the animal time to adjust into your home, and/or trying a few new things. Other times an animal may just not be a good fit for your home or lifestyle. We will always take our animal back, but we do ask that you give us 24 hour notice beforehand. If 24 hour notice is not possible we will do our best to make arrangements to get the animal immediately.

how long am i expected to foster?

​We prefer that you commit to fostering your animal until an adoptive home is found. Unfortunately, we cannot predict how long this will take. It depends on the animal’s breed, age, temperament, and the time of year. If you can only foster for a specific period of time, please be certain to indicate this up front to the foster coordinator. We prefer not to bounce animals around, and if a different foster home cannot be found, this may put the animal into the shelter environment.

how old do i have to be to foster from mchs?

​We require that all fosters must be at least 18 years of age.

can i adopt my own foster pet?

Of course! Many of us have done this ourselves. Just remember that if you adopt too many, you’ll have no room left for fosters. We’d hate to lose you! All fosters are required to take the same steps to adopting a pet as a general member of the public. Adoption fees are not discounted or waived for foster homes and an adoption application and agreement must still be signed.

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